Before Terrence Samuel’s recruitment took off, before he began accumulating scholarship offers, before he even opted to attend South Shore, he knew about Connecticut.

“UConn was my dream school,” he said. “I watched them on TV, I watched them play football. I loved everything about them.”

He doesn’t have to dream anymore.

The 6-foot-4 senior, arguably the best point guard in the city, picked the Huskies over Rhode Island on Sunday, joining New Rens AAU teammate Kentan Facey of Long Island Lutheran and current freshman Omar Calhoun formerly of Christ the King. Tennessee, Dayton, Pittsburgh and Temple were also heavily involved.

Samuel visited UConn and Rhode Island last weekend. He had a tough time choosing between the two, feeling a close bond with coaching staffs from each program.

He spoke extensively about the decision with his mother Wilma Samuel, brothers Jayron and Jale Fleary, South Shore head coach Mike Beckles and assistant Shawn Mark, Samuel’s cousin. He eventually opted for UConn on his own after much debate.

“It’s very exciting and I’m honored to get this opportunity,” he said.

Samuel and South Shore have come a long way. The year before he arrived at the Canarsie school with good friend and teammate Shamiek Sheppard, South Shore was 0-14. He has led the Vikings to back-to-back PSAL Class AA quarterfinal berths and now has a full scholarship to the Big East, one of the premier conferences in the country.

“It’s a very big statement for the program,” Mark said. “He’s proven with the right people behind you and [given] the right instructions, you can go to a big-time college from South Shore High School.”

A solid B+ student who is already qualified, Samuel will be able to battle for minutes immediately as a freshman. A big guard at his best when he attacks the basket and creates for himself and others, Samuel was a target of a plethora of high major Division I programs over the last year.

“If he can run a team and play the way I know he can play, he’ll get a good education but also have the possibility of going pro,” Mark said. “I’m just happy that he’s got an opportunity to play at a higher level. I’m really happy about how he’s progressed as a player to get to this point.”

Ranked 112th overall in the Class of 2013 by Scout.com, Samuel’s greatest strength is his ability to run a team one Division I coach familiar with Samuel said. The coach said he can see Samuel also playing off the ball at times, given his shot improves.

“What makes him good is clearly his size,” the coach said. “He has sneaky athleticism and his ability to be a floor general and pass the ball makes him pretty good. When he gets rolling [in the open court], he’s tough to stop.”

It wasn’t just basketball that drew Samuel to UConn. He was drawn to its top-rated business program, his preferred major, the state-of-the-art facilities and sprawling campus.

“It looked like everything I ever wanted,” Samuel said.

UConn will have a distinct local feel in the years to come. The Huskies could have an all-Brooklyn backcourt with Samuel and Calhoun, to go along with Facey up front.